The United States has dropped to its lowest-ever ranking in the 2025 edition of the World Happiness Report, falling to 24th place amid rising social isolation and political polarization. Finland continues to top the index, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Norway, Israel, Luxembourg, and Mexico.
The report highlights growing unhappiness in the US, with one in four Americans reporting eating alone most of the time. This trend contradicts a global decline in “deaths of despair” since 2000. Instead, the US saw an increase in deaths of despair by 53% since 2003, particularly among young people.
Researchers attribute rising unhappiness to growing social isolation and political polarization. They suggest that trust in others plays a crucial role in determining happiness, with low-trust individuals more likely to vote for far-right parties and high-trust individuals inclined to vote for far-left parties.
In contrast, countries like Mexico and Costa Rica broke into the top 10 list, thanks to factors such as regularly sharing meals and living in larger households. These social interactions foster positive relationships, which are essential for wellbeing. The report emphasizes that happiness is not just about wealth or economic growth but about trust, connection, and community.
The World Happiness Report highlights the importance of social cohesion and robust social safety nets in achieving higher and more sustainable wellbeing. As CEO of Gallup, Jon Clifton notes that investing in each other is key to creating stronger communities and economies.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/20/finland-takes-top-spot-us-gets-lowest-ever-rank-in-world-happiness-report